Image of Rosia Montana by Lorin Niculae
Download final report here
INTBAU Romania was delighted to organise a new Masonry Course in Transylvania - Romania. The course took place in one of the oldest European communities - the Rosia Montana village. The place was settled by the Romans at the beginning of the Christian era. The legend says that the Roman emperors were attracted by the gold resources of Rosia Montana and decided to conquer the place.
Rosia Montana is formed of traditional houses, many of which are listed buildings. The area has an enormous amount of heritage, including archaeological sites of unique value - such as pre-Roman and Roman galleries.
Masonry Course
The Masonry course, organised by INTBAU Romania, was designed as a hands-on project. The aim was to contribute towards the restoration of a traditional house in Rosia Montana while providing training for the local people and a number of students / apprentices keen to learn traditional restoration skills. The tutor of the course was the British Master craftsman, Henry Rumbold, who was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his restoration work over the last 40 years.
The site chosen for the course was house number 391 on Brazi Street. The house is representative of the entire area and it is built of traditional materials, such as lime, stone and timber. The participants at the course undertook repair work at the foundation level by removing parts of the concrete, replacing the missing stones and applying lime mortar.
The course was a great chance for participants to go back to the basics of masonry. They were taught how to work with traditional materials such as lime, bricks, sand and stone. They also learnt how to prepare lime mortar and how to apply it using only traditional tools.
The INTBAU Masonry Course was organised with the help of the Soros Foundation Romania, to whom we are very grateful.
PROGRAMME
Day 1 - MONDAY 12 May
- Introduction to INTBAU international and INTBAU Romania
- Presentation of health and safety rules
- Lecture on site: Faults & repairs with traditional materials
- Presentation of 391 house (the site work)
- Dinner
Day 2 - TUESDAY 13 May
Foundation & repair
Lecture on site: Lime and mortars; bricks & plaster
Work on site: preparation of lime mortar, start of rendering of exterior walls
Dinner
Day 3 - WEDNESDAY 14 May
Setting old buildings
Lecture on site: rebuilding: stone, brick & lime plaster
Work on site: rendering of exterior walls under guidance
Social event: Barbeque in the evening
Day 4 - THURSDAY 15 May
Underpinning fractures. Roof and chimney problems
Lecture on site: Bricks. Different techniques and styles of laying bricks
Practical work: rendering of exterior
Dinner
Day 5 - FRIDAY 16 May
Practical work: rendering of walls & brick laying
Conclusion of the workshop: results, feedback
Dinner
Day 6 - SATURDAY 17 May
Visit to the Roman galleries
Picnic in the surrounding nature
Final dinner
Day 7 - SUNDAY 18 May
Participants leave
Further information
Aura Woodward
INTBAU Communications Director
Tel: +44 (0)20 7613 8530
Fax: +44 (0)20 7613 8599
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